Leeds United: We must keep pressure on top two, says Green

The goalkeeper saw United’s 2-0 win over Albion at Elland Road as “up there” with their strongest performances of the term and admitted it came after a period of matches in which Leeds “hadn’t been that fluent”. The club reached the international break placed fourth in the Championship after a seven-game unbeaten run, the last of those fixtures a convincing victory against second-placed Brighton.

Green conceded that Leeds had been below par in certain other matches, despite their results, but said their run of form had given Garry Monk’s side a chance to put pressure on Brighton and Newcastle United, the clubs who hold the division’s automatic promotion positions.

Leeds have only a slender chance of catching the top two and are eight points adrift ahead of Saturday’s televised trip to Reading. A lead of eight points over seventh-placed Fulham, however, has reduced the threat of United dropping out of the play-offs during the run-in.

Green said: “All you can do is ask the question. We know we’ve got a young side and still a lot to learn but a performance like Saturday’s – if we can do that eight times on the bounce and win eight games then you’re asking the question.

“In general two points a game gets you promotion and if we win every game then we’ll have 93 points, which is one over. It’s a big ask, it’s a huge ask, but with the form we’re in we’re looking up rather than down. We’re not looking over our shoulders at Fulham.

“We’ve got a game Saturday and then another one on Tuesday (away at Brentford). You never know, we could be a few points closer after those.

“You just want to ask the question and if Brighton go on a run now and get promoted, fair enough. We’ve done everything we can to force them into that.”

Two goals from Chris Wood were enough to beat Chris Hughton’s side and Green, who pulled off two crucial saves in either half, said: “It was a really pleasing performance. The performances hadn’t been as fluent of late and we were aware of that whilst picking up results.

“We hadn’t dominated games but I really feel that on Saturday we showed that we’re up there in terms of competing on our day. The way we managed the game from the back, playing out and controlling the pace of it, was pleasing against a very good side. It felt like we deserved the win.”